There are different definitions on federalism. A. Lijpart provides a common point: it is a guaranteed allocation of power between central government and regional governments. Therefore there is a great diversity with which Brazilian Federalism is considered; it is considered as a derivative of the United States, as well as that of Mexico and Venezuela. It is a type of government that is formed from a quest for efficiency in the management of a territory in Brazil by administering a large territory (the largest state in Latin America with 8.5 million sq km or 16 times that of France); here one can see a pragmatic approach.

It is an instrument for uniting different regions, relationships built sometimes beyond profoundly different identities (religion, ethnicity ) and deal with deep economic disparities. The establishment of management and is therefore based on different federal logic, and its success depends on both the relevance of institutions established and socio-cultural factors. All companies do not seem capable of being managed in a Federal Way, especially when that form of state was imposed on them or rather (Badie) 'imported'. In the case of Brazil, one can also see a feature since the States have formed the first summer in a goal of centralizing the Portuguese settler. From there, the sustainability of such a model does not seem obvious. Then how has history and socio-cultural characteristics contributed to make Brazil a federal state?

The structure of the state is marked by the Portuguese influence. Brazil was discovered in 1500 by Pedro Alvares Cabral, Portugal and reproduces its structures, divides the territory into "capitanias hereditaria" for ease of administration. Indeed, the system is set up as the huge territory is domesticated, the country is taking shape, and this mode will affect long-term structure of the state and the distribution of power. Indeed, the settlers are granted by the crown part of the territory that they govern, or they enact laws and administer justice. Thus the emergence of dozens of "capitanias", which are gradually moving towards the "general government" more suited to the collection of taxes. Structures from the colonial administration are the basis of the current structures of the Federal Republic of Brazil.